2024 Volume 15 Issue 8 Pages 1053-1058
Introduction: Unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) or biportal endoscopic spine surgery (BESS) is an endoscopic procedure that creates two portals (camera and working portals) and is performed under perfusion. We studied the conditions for safe surgery by measuring the perfusion pressure in natural fall.
Methods: Eight patients who underwent UBE/BESS herniectomy for lumbar disc herniation were included in our study. We compared the perfusion pressure between the irrigation and occlusion groups using a 2,000 ml saline solution in the irrigation bag and Smith & Nephew's LumbarScope.
Results: In both groups, the perfusion pressure increased with higher elevation of the irrigation bag, and the occlusion group showed a significantly higher pressure than the irrigation group. In the occlusion group, the pressure reached a critical range in some cases when the height of the irrigation bag exceeded 60 cm, while no such cases were noted in the irrigation group.
Conclusions: This study reports the conditions for performing surgery with an appropriate perfusion pressure in UBE/BESS. Sufficient perfusion and avoiding excessive elevation of the irrigation bag height are important for safe surgery.
